Tacia's Voice Thread

UDL Principles Applied to a Voicethread

In teaching fifth grade math, my students are struggling with the concept of finding parts of a whole, or finding a fraction of a group. I created the first part of this voice thread as an introduction to solving fraction problems using parts of a whole. The intro worked well giving students the key steps needed in breaking down their problems. As I have been studying UDL in this master's course, I discovered the ability of Voicethread to create lessons that can take the engagement of students further. Thus I created the guided practice part, where students will actually be engaged in the Voicethread, which should create a stronger more lasting understanding of the concepts presented.

Core Content:

MA-05-1.1.1
· apply multiple representations (e.g., drawings, manipulatives, base-10 blocks, number lines, symbols) to describe commonly-used fractions, mixed numbers and decimals through thousandths;
· apply these numbers to represent real-world problems











Explain how your Voicethread addresses the UDL Guidelines.
Links will take you to the UDL Guidelines website.

UDL Guidelines – Educator Checklist
I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation:	Your notes
1. Provide options for perception
The Voice Thread shows how to solve the problems with pictures, but also explains with voice and words.
The display of information highlights the key points in the picture, bringing the viewers attention into focus.
2. Provide options for language and symbols
The slide on numerators/denominators defines the key terms in relation to the problem.
The pictures of the group clarifies how to use the math terms, with visual rather than word cues.
3. Provide options for comprehension
The auditory explanations activate background knowledge on multiples, relating them to fractions.
The lesson has two parts - first it gives and example, then it has guided practice to help the viewer build comprehension.
II. Provide Multiple Means for Action and Expression:	Your notes
4. Provide options for physical actions
The viewer can physically interact with the lesson, by scrolling through slides at their own pace.
Any part of the lesson is accessible at any time through the click of a button.
5. Provide options for expressive skills and fluency
The student interacts with the guided practice by verbally commenting throughout the steps of the solution.
The lesson is scaffolded from an example to guided practice.
6. Provide options for executive functions
In the guided practice, students are given time to think through each step with guiding questions. Their response is provided immediate feedback with the slide that follows.
The student is able to monitor their progress as they check their thinking on the next slide.
III. Provide Multiple Means for Engagement:	Your notes
7. Provide options for recruiting interest
The Voice Thread is engaging, focusing on the problems at hand, eliminating distractions that may occur in the traditional pen/paper setting.
The lesson allows students the choice of responding verbally or through typing, and at times using a pen.
8. Provide options for sustaining effort and persistence
The first part of the lesson can be revisited so students that need extra support when working through the practice problem do not give up.
Once multiple students have worked through the Voice Thread, students can use collaborative learning to build their own understanding.
9. Provide options for self-regulation
The skills needed to solve the problems are broken down into steps on each slide.
The guided practice shows the solutions so that the student can monitor their own understanding.

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